ARIMIDEX Reviews (ANASTROZOLE)Average Rating: 2.5 (1431 Ratings)Filter ResultsCompare ARIMIDEX with similar:
Type: Rx Drug
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Results are sorted by Date added. Key to Ratings: 1=LOW (I would not recommend taking this medicine.) Page: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 |
More on ARIMIDEX: Reviews Summary | Drug Safety Information
| RATING | REASON | SIDE EFFECTS FOR ARIMIDEX | COMMENTS | SEX | AGE | DURATION/ DOSAGE | DATE ADDED |
| 2 | Breast Cancer Stage 2 DCIS neg node | joint pain, cough and throat feels closed in, Problems breathing, headache intermittent, weight gain, hot all of the time plus hot flashes but not really 'flashes'. | The hot flashes I have had with this drug have been almost unbearable. I am so tempted to stop taking it but I've only been on it for less then 3 months so I'll keep trying. | F | 62 | 80 days | 4/25/2009 | 2 | Breast cancer | Water retention, weight gain overall, anxiety, blurred vision, fuzzy head, aches, no energy, depression, sleep problems, puffy face, puffy all around, mood swings, labido is zero, vaginal drynes, headaches. No quality of life on this drug! | I am just about at the end of this journey. I don't think the doctor takes me seriously about this drug. Always says these ARE NOT side effects to this drug! BS! This doctor has many handouts such as blankets, pens etc.. with this drugs name on it! So is he being taunted by the drug company to push this off on women??????? Paid off?? I would say so. I was a viable human being before taking this with endless energy. Forget it now. I feel like a lump of coal. Start excersing and the joint pain and aches are unbearable. They need to come up with something better than this. Will see the doctor in about 3 weeks and hopefully this will be the end of this treatment. I never felt this bad when I had chemo or radiation. This is no way to live! Absolute garbage. If these problems were occurring in men, something would be done about it, but no one ever takes women seriously! We are just a bunch of winers according to men! | F | 55 | 5 years | 4/24/2009 | 3 | Breast cancer ER+ | Many side effects. Hot flashes, body aches and pains, terrible headaches for a while (but those seemed to have eased off), some days a very foggy head,(so bad I am scared to drive), can't seem to think straight, sore throat almost everyday, can't sleep at night, can't get up in the morning, am exhausted all the time, my energy level is so bad that is is an effort to do anything, feel old and decrepit. When I first get up in morn, I can hardly walk, same when I have been sitting for awhile. After I move around for a bit, it gets better. I just feel like I've lost all zest for life. | I was on tamoxifen for 2 years, but had a reoccurence, so they changed me to Arimidex. Not a very nice drug. But doctors have said it gives a better chance of survival. So I just try and look at it like another part of cancer treatment that I have to get thru. But at times it is hard not to get really down when you feel so bad. Hopefully it doesn't get much worse. I have at least another 3 years to go. I sure hope I feel normal again after this treatment is over. | F | 53 | 2 years | 4/22/2009 | 1 | Breast cancer, lumpectomy, radiatio | weight gain, nausa, hot flashes 24/7, cracked teeth, crave weird food. | I took it for 3 years and gained 45 lbs., stopped taking it 2 months ago. Still waiting for weight loss, but am starting to feel better all around. | F | 61 | 3 years | 4/22/2009 | 3 | BC stage 2, nodes neg | Joint pain, numb palms, stiffness. I started yoga 3 times a week and walking. It has helped so much. The exercise is hard to get started but I feel so much better. I started HRT hormone replacement therapy and only have the testosterone implant. It has helped with my energy level and my mental swings. Big difference. If you take this drug then one must exercise or the pain will take over the body. Do something in the way of exercise daily and you will feel better. | F | 57 | 35 days | 4/21/2009 | 3 | Breast Cancer survivor | Joint pain especially in the knees and fingers, weight gain, vision problems, thinning hair (also from curly to straight hair). Vaginal dryness,and decrease in libido. | I hung in there for five years as recommended by my doctor and encouraged by my family (they wanted me to increase my survival rate). Tomorrow I take the LAST pill. I feel that I have done my best in following all the treatment (lumpectomy, chemo, radiation and arimidex). I will let you know if/when the side effects go away. | F | 47 | 5 years | 4/19/2009 | 2 | Stage 1 BC - ER+, Nodes neg. Lumpec | 1st 2+ years all ok - lately, finger & toe & lip neuropathy ( all feel numb) - transient bone and joint pain (sometimes my hips hurt so much it is hard to walk, and sometimes my thumbs are totally disabled...but it comes and goes.) Also, I have been having nausea in the a.m., and extremely low glucose readings (like 55) in the morning, resulting in sweats, heart palpitations, and a "swooning" feeling.I am NOT diabetic. I have an appointment with my oncologist in 2 weeks. We'll see about continuing. I have also discontinued Fosamax - it tore up my stomach.I do have a hiatal hernia which may have made the Fosamax difficult.I also had bone loss in my jaw. OK - I trashed the Fosamax in spite of the MD's recommendation. I have increased my Calcium +vitamin D intake. That'll have to do. | I thought I was tolerating it very well. The first few months I had night sweats, but that went away. Then I started having the "numb" feeling in my fingertips and toes about 6 months ago. Now it is in my hands and around my mouth.I have 2 years to go on this med, and I am not sure I want to do it. These symptoms do not appear in the Rx insert. Anyone else having them? | F | 63 | 3 years | 4/16/2009 | 1 | IDC, Stage 1, ER+ | SEVERE joint & muscle pain (I walk like Frankenstein when I get up in the morning & from a sitting position throughout the day), SEVERE weight gain (have gone from a size 12 to a size 18 in 1 year), am very tired, found out I also have osteopenia so now I am taking Fosamax for that, and now my cholesterol is too high (which is probably from the weight gain)!!! | I was diagnosed with IDC in Jan. 2007 at age 48. I had a bilateral mastectomy in March 2007. I took tamoxifen until I had a hysterectomy in Nov. 2007. Then I tried Femara and then Aromasin. Arimidex has the same awful side effects. I have decided to stop taking the Arimidex and enjoy a better quality of life however long that may be! Drug companies - - - please develop something without these side effects!!! | F | 50 | 1 years | 4/15/2009 | 2 | stage1 invasive lobular bc | hot flashes,mood swings,trigger finger in both thumbs,and starting in my pinky,joint pain,dry skin,no libido. i hate this drug,but I can't tolerate tamoxifen.I'm going to get a mam, and bone density test next week. i feel like I'm 80 years old.I'm seriously thinking about stopping it. My onc. is sending me to a hand surgeon for mt thumbs. I told him that I'm not having surgery. He acted like I was nuts.I work with my hands and can't take the time off.I'll see if he can give me some cortisone injections. i think that the side effects aren't worth it.I've been on this drug for 17 months. Also, my co-pay changed from $25.00 to $100.00 because it's a "specialty " drug.Which means it's relatively new and they need their r&d money back.I think we're all guinea pigs.Who knows what effects it could have 10 years or so down the road??? I'm going to pray about this, and do what God tells me. I know in my heart that he provided natural things to cure diseases.I'm looking into holis | F | 51 | 17 days | 4/14/2009 | 4 | Breast Cancer | Joint pain, osteoporosis,high cholesterol. | I finish 5 years in July 2009 and my Dr. is trying to talk me into a clinical trial with femara.There is no way I'll do it. After chemo, radiation , and 5 years of Arimidex, I've had enough. | F | 58 | 5 years | 4/13/2009 | 2 | Early Breast Cancer, no nodes | Aching all over, general fatigue, carpal tunnel leading to surgery | After discussion with both my breast surgeon and radiation oncologist, I came off this drug after just 2months and have just had an all-clear again, two years after initial diagnosis. I am an educated woman, still teaching fulltime and refuse to be a guinea pig for drug companies. I exercise regularly, eat a healthy diet and now enjoy life again. I am willing to take my chances and not take any oral chemo drugs. I do, however, realise that my prognosis is probably a better one than many others may receive and that my decision would not be the right one for others. My wish is that we all survive and I wish everyone all the very best. | F | 57 | 2 months | 4/9/2009 | 2 | breast cancer stage 2 - 1.7 cm lump | hot flushes, night sweats, aching right hip, left shoulder, vaginal dryness, loss of energy. | I read in the comments to discontinue flaxseed and soy products and I started using these products as I thought they would help. I have also changed to mostly a plant based diet. I don't know whether this will help but you can't go wrong with eating a healthy diet. I would like to learn more about the flaxseed and soy products. I had been on estraderm 100 patches for 16 1/2 years after having a hysterectomy and I blame that on my breast cancer. | F | 63 | 2 months | 4/9/2009 | 2 | Early invasive breast cancer | All the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis. Not the case though as I have had blood checks. Aching from head to feet. Headaches. Dry skin. Generally feeling out of sorts. | I tried Tamoxifen but this made me too sick. My Surgeon has made other suggestions but I think that I have decided that although I ache, I can take "over the counter" pain tablets, so perhaps better the devil you know. Given that there is such a high incidence of joint pain, why haven't the Boffins come up with an all round solution for us all? | F | 59 | 10 months | 4/8/2009 | 3 | BRAC2 Her2+ ERPR+ 16+ Nodes Stag3 | I had left mast May 07, 16 of 28 nodes pos. Pre & Post Chemo & Rad 07 No problems with any of it. Now - Severe hot flashes with aching (like the flu), bone pain & muscle aching that move around, hand pain & tingling & falling asleep, trigger fingers ,joint stiffness, mouth sores,constipation, vaginal dryness & pain,(absolutely no sexual desire), wrinkles & dry skin, fatigue, I feel 103+ It's hard on my family. I used to be healthy now BP is going up every visit. Oh not to mention this med absolutely does make you gain weight! I've never been heavy, I've steadily gained, 30+ since starting this! That can't be good for health. | Thank God I found this site! I thought I was crazy too. I have high pain tolerance but this med is difficult- I just hurt. I gave it 3 because who knows if it's working. Obviously the alternative is too scarey to stop taking this, but even then I'm finding it very hard to continue. It would help greatly if I knew the symptoms would go away when, if ever, I can stop this med. Seeing Onco Fri. Has anyone stopped this med? Do the side effects go away eventually, or am I stuck like this? But if it keeps the cancer away then I guess it's worth it! | F | 50 | 1 years | 4/7/2009 | 3 | breast cancer -- lumpectomy & radia | hot flashes, vaginal dryness, emotional problems, a few aches just now beginning | I take my pill at bedtime, and right after breakfast run/walk as hard as I can for 35 to 45 min. Then I try to lift weights 3 times a week. I don't always reach my goals. I've been an exerciser and a huge milk drinker (so my bones are good) for years, so this may be why I can continue to do this now. As long as I'm exercising hard, I have very few hot flashes, and they are brief. Neither do I ache. I guess the exercise helps the emotional thing. I don't know. It seems pretty bad to me -- more like I was as a teen, saying hateful things and crying a lot. The vaginal dryness isn't good. Replens is a product that contains no estrogen and can be used as much as you like (more than the directions say). It helps with the dryness although it tends to drain out so I try to use it at night. I would have given this a 4 rating except for the dryness and emotional thing. I guess it's doing it s job. I'm alive, and that's great! Now after having been on Arimidex 2 years, I hope to stick with it for the full 5 if I can and continue exercising hard, eating right, and using Replens. | F | 56 | 2 years | 4/6/2009 | 1 | multifocal breast cancer | Interstitial lung disease | F | 71 | 3.5 years | 4/6/2009 | 1 | estrogen receptive breast cancer | joint pain, weight gain, insomnia, depression, decreased libido, headaches, constipation, osteoporosis | I wish I had never taken this drug. The side affects out weigh any benefit it may provide and I question that. I feel it may have also caused my thyroid problem. I just had to have my thyroid removed. Thankfully it was not cancerous but I will have to take thyroid medicine the rest of my life. | F | 59 | 2 years | 4/6/2009 | 2 | stage 1 bc | hmmm... briefly? lol.. been on Arimidex for 7 months.. caused hbp, irregular hb, depression, slowed down my thyroid, rise in cholesterol, now a vaginal discharge and burning, arthritis, hands, feet, back and hips the worst.. after sitting five minutes, i get up to walk and feel like I am 80.. told my doctor about the side effects.. he said discontinue the drug and come see him in a month to discuss other options.. got scared and started back on it.. I have four children.. two of which are still at home.. ages 15 and 12.. My 12 year old is highfunction autistic.. they lost their dad four years ago.. so I can't take the risk of cancer coming back.. it has been 6 years.. after 5 years of tomoxifen.. had a mam in Feb.. still cancer free.. don't know what to do.. i hate this med. | F | 52 | 7 months | 4/5/2009 | 1 | stage 2A ER + non-invasive BC | Severe joint and muscle pain from the neck down to my feet, muscle aches, carpel tunnel in rt hand, starting in left. Weight gain. | Went off drug a week and a half ago, risk of being on the drug for me outweighed the benefits, still achy, hoping symptoms caused by Armidex aren't long term. Going for therapy for carpel tunnel. | F | 42 | 6 months | 3/31/2009 | 3 | breast cancer grade 2 | exacerbates my osteo arthritis very much, initially almost crippled me. After one year changed to Tamoxifen - after 2 months of that had a minor heart attack. Went back on Arimidex. I am trying to perservere with it. | F | 75 | 2 years | 3/28/2009 |